Abstract: Disclosed are biodegradable insulation materials comprising a structural scaffold; and at least one temperature resilient fungus. Also disclosed are methods of making and using biodegradable insulation materials comprising a structural scaffold; and at least one temperature resilient fungus. For example, disclosed are methods of insulating an infrastructure comprising administering the disclosed biodegradable insulation materials to an infrastructure.

Abstract: Polymeric films, which may be adhesive films, and display devices including such polymeric films, wherein a polymeric film includes: a first polymeric layer having two major surfaces, wherein the first polymeric layer includes a first polymeric matrix and particles. The first polymeric layer includes: a first polymeric matrix having a refractive index ni; and particles having a refractive index n2 uniformly dispersed within the first polymeric matrix; wherein the particles are present in an amount of less than 30 vol-%, based on the volume of the first polymeric layer, and have a particle size range of 400 nanometers (nm) to 3000 nm; and wherein ni is different than n2.

Abstract: Display devices that include: an organic light emitting diode panel having a multilayer construction including one or more adhesive films; and a polymeric film incorporated within the multilayer construction of the organic light emitting diode panel.

Abstract: Multilayer optical film reflective polarizers previously considered to have excessive off-axis color can provide adequate performance in an LC display in an “on-glass” configuration, laminated to a back absorbing polarizer of the display, without any light diffusing layer or air gap in such laminate. The reflective polarizer is a tentered-one-packet (TOP) multilayer film, having only one packet of microlayers, and oriented using a standard tenter such that birefringent microlayers in the film are biaxially birefringent. The thickness profile of optical repeat units (ORUs) in the microlayer packet is tailored to avoid excessive perceived color at normal and oblique angles. Color at high oblique angles in the white state of the display is reduced by positioning thicker ORUs closer to the absorbing polarizer, and by ensuring that, with regard to a boxcar average of the ORU thickness profile, the average slope from an ORU(600) to an ORU(645) does not exceed 1.

Abstract: An apparatus has a surface exposable to a byproduct carbonaceous material formation environment and comprising a perovskite material having an ABO3 perovskite structure and being of formula AaBbO3-?, wherein 0.9<a?1.2; 0.9<b?1.2; ?0.5<?<0.

Abstract: This application describes a back-lit transmissive display including a transmissive display and a variable index light extraction layer optically coupled to a lightguide. The variable index light extraction layer has first regions of nanovoided polymeric material and second regions of the nanovoided polymeric material and an additional material. The first and second regions are disposed such that for light being transported at a supercritical angle in the lightguide, the variable index light extraction layer selectively extracts the light in a predetermined way based on the geometric arrangement of the first and second regions. The transmissive display may be a transmissive display panel or a polymeric film such as a graphic.

Abstract: This application describes a front-lit reflective display assembly including a reflective display and an illumination article for front-lighting the display when the article is optically coupled to a light source. The illumination article includes a variable index light extraction layer optically coupled to a lightguide. The variable index light extraction layer has first and second regions, the first region comprising nanovoided polymeric material, the second region comprising the nanovoided polymeric material and an additional material, the first and second regions being disposed such that for light being transported at a supercritical angle in the lightguide, the variable index light extraction layer selectively extracts the light in a predetermined way based on the geometric arrangement of the first and second regions. Front-lit reflective display devices including the front-lit reflective display assembly optically coupled to a light source are also described.

Abstract: Variable index light extraction layers that contain a first region with a first material and a second region including a second material are described, where the first region has a lower effective index of refraction than the second region. Optical films and stacks may use the variable index light extraction layers in front lit or back lit display devices and luminaires.

Abstract: A surface treatment method includes: contacting a substrate with a treatment material, the substrate comprising a metallic element, the treatment material comprising an alkaline earth metal element, an alkali metal element, or any combination thereof; and forming on the substrate a surface layer comprising a first oxide of the alkaline earth metal element, the alkali metal element, or any combination thereof and a second oxide of the metallic element. A device has: a substrate layer comprising a metallic element; and a surface layer comprising a first oxide of an alkaline earth metal element, an alkali metal element, or any combination thereof, and a second oxide of the metallic element.

Abstract: A system and method for heating structures to either prevent the build-up of freezing precipitation or eliminate freezing precipitation on an exposed outer surface of the structures. The system includes a heating assembly integrally formed with a structure to apply thermal energy to the exposed outer surface of the structure. Optionally, the heating assembly includes heating elements formed of carbon fiber. The system optionally includes a control assembly operatively coupled to the heating assembly. The control assembly selectively powers the heating assembly and can be configured for remote operation. In use, the control assembly can be selectively activated from a remote location to power the heating assembly and heat the structure. Optionally, the structure is a concrete structure.

Abstract: Polymeric films, which may be adhesive films, and display devices including such polymeric films, wherein a polymeric film includes: a first polymeric layer having two major surfaces, wherein the first polymeric layer includes a first polymeric matrix and particles. The first polymeric layer includes: a first polymeric matrix having a refractive index n1; and particles having a refractive index n2 uniformly dispersed within the first polymeric matrix; wherein the particles are present in an amount of less than 30 vol-%, based on the volume of the first polymeric layer, and have a particle size range of 400 nanometers (nm) to 3000 nm; and wherein n1 is different than n2.

Abstract: A system and method for heating structures to either prevent the build-up of freezing precipitation or eliminate freezing precipitation on an exposed outer surface of the structures. The system includes a heating assembly integrally formed with a structure to apply thermal energy to the exposed outer surface of the structure. Optionally, the heating assembly includes heating elements formed of carbon fiber. The system optionally includes a control assembly operatively coupled to the heating assembly. The control assembly selectively powers the heating assembly and can be configured for remote operation. In use, the control assembly can be selectively activated from a remote location to power the heating assembly and heat the structure. Optionally, the structure is a concrete structure.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes a light fixture for general lighting. The light fixture is includes a light source assembly that uses a point source of light such as an LED, an aspheric reflector, and a lightguide made of transparent materials, that redirects and distributes the light from the point source to an area light. The novel light fixture is not only functional and provides low-glare illumination, it also has an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Abstract: An article including a metal substrate, an anti-coking catalyst layer and an alumina barrier layer disposed between the metal substrate and the anti-coking catalyst layer is provided. A process for making the article is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for heating concrete structures to either prevent the build-up of freezing precipitation or eliminate freezing precipitation on a top surface of the concrete structures. The system includes a heating assembly integrally formed with a concrete structure to apply thermal energy to the top surface of the concrete structure. Optionally, the heating assembly includes heating elements formed of carbon fiber tape. Following formation of the concrete structure, the heating assembly is configured for unified movement with the concrete structure. The system optionally includes a control assembly operatively coupled to the heating assembly. The control assembly selectively powers the heating assembly and can be configured for remote operation. In use, the control assembly can be selectively activated from a remote location to power the heating assembly and heat the concrete structure.

Abstract: Provided is a self-heated enclosure with carbon fiber. An example system can comprise an enclosure defining an interior chamber. The system can comprise at least one electrically conductive carbon fiber member configured in relation to the enclosure to provide a thermal output to the interior chamber when a voltage is applied to the at least one electrically conductive carbon fiber member. The system can further comprise a power source electrically coupled to the at least one electrically conductive carbon fiber member. The power source can be configured to selectively apply the voltage to the at least one electrically conductive carbon fiber member.

Abstract: Disclosed are biodegradable insulation materials comprising a structural scaffold; and at least one temperature resilient fungus. Also disclosed are methods of making and using biodegradable insulation materials comprising a structural scaffold; and at least one temperature resilient fungus. For example, disclosed are methods of insulating an infrastructure comprising administering the disclosed biodegradable insulation materials to an infrastructure.

Abstract: Extended area lighting devices, which are useful e.g. as luminaires, include a light guide and diffractive surface features on a major surface of the light guide. The diffractive surface features are tailored to extract guided-mode light from the light guide. The light guides can be combined with other components and features such as light source(s) to inject guided-mode light into the light guide, light source(s) to project light through the light guide as non-guided-mode light, a framework of interconnected support members (attached to multiple such light guides), and/or a patterned low index subsurface layer that selectively blocks some guided mode light from reaching the diffractive surface features, to provide unique and useful lighting devices. Related optical devices, and optical films having diffractive features that can be used to construct such devices and light guides, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A refractory wall comprises a hotface layer comprising a hotface surface configured to be adjacent to a carbonaceous gasification environment, a backing layer facing the hotface layer, and a cooling layer facing the backing layer and configured to cool the hotface layer via the backing layer. A gasification device and a gasification process are also presented.

Abstract: Extended area lighting devices include a light guide and diffractive surface features on a major surface of the light guide. The diffractive surface features provide low distortion for viewing objects through the light guide. Light from discrete light source(s) is injected into the light guide, and the diffractive surface features interact with the injected light to couple guided-mode light out of the light guide. The out-coupled light produces one or more bands whose apparent shape changes with viewing position. The bands may be bright bands that correspond to the discrete light sources, or dark bands associated with an optional non-uniform reflective structure extending along a side surface of the light guide. Multiple bands may form a pattern that changes with viewing position, the pattern of bands having a 3-dimensional appearance for at least some viewing positions. The lighting devices can be used as luminaires for general lighting or decorative lighting.